Words of Wisdom
The importance of improving your argument, by Archbishop Desmund Tutu
“My father always used to say, ‘Don't raise your voice. Improve your argument.’ Good sense does not always lie with the loudest shouters, nor can we say that a large, unruly crowd is always the best arbiter of what is right.”
― Desmond Tutu
We may see ourselves as being divided, but developing a good argument is an important part of academia - especially religious academia. Today, learning to advance a good argument, meaning, being able to articulate a your particular viewpoint, is now a skill needed more than ever. The world has become very “binary” with we-they paradigms dominating so much of the public sphere.
Perhaps equally alarming is the fact that moderate voices are withdrawing from conversation more and more. But yelling loudly is not any more effective than walking away in silent retreat.
Learning to improve the argument is essential. For those who are in religious leadership, this might mean improving your understanding of current issues and the way your faith practice addresses those issues. As academics, this often means proving your mastery of the current and past discourse before articulating your viewpoint. Sometimes, careful consideration of counter-arguments is one of the best ways you can improve your argument.
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